Submarine cable



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,549,948

J. J. ZELENKA SUBMARINE CABLE josep/jj/g/mka Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

UNITE STATES JOSEPH J. ZELENKA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERK ELECTRIC COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, 015 NEW YDRK, N. Y.,. A CORIPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. SUBMARINE CABLE.

Application filed April 21, 1921. Serial No. 463,435.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,.JosEPH J. ZELENKA, a citizen ofthe United'States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Cables, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates in general to electric cables and particularly to improvements in submarine cables.

The usual submarine cable having paper or similar fibrous insulation contains a relatively large amount of insulation which is compressed as much as is mechanically possible Without injuring the insulation during the stranding process. This compact form is used in order that as much resistance as possible may be offered to the flow of water, should a break occur in the sheath, and that the cable may therefore be taken up and repaired before a substantial length thereof is ruined.

It has been suggested that the same results can be effected by inserting plugs at intervals in under water cables.

However, in submarine cables and in cable plugs, great difficulty has been experienced in providing adequate means for sealing the spaces between the conductors and the lead sheath. It has been proposed to beat in the lead sheath to closely conform to the surface of the grouped conductors, and also to build up the core by means of tape to fit the sheath snugly, but it has been found extremely diflicult, if not impossible, to eliminate all passages through which water might flow.

It is an ob'ect of this invention to provide improve means for filling the interstices between the core and sheath in a cable or a cable plug of this type.

In accordance with this object, the present invention contemplates applying a layer of balata or similar material to a section of cable core in which a plug has previously been inserted, and then applying the hot lead sheath so as to cause the substance to flow into a homogenous mass which completely fills the space between the plug and the sheath.

The invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which conductors 1 are covered in the usual manner with paper insulating material. A section 2 of the cable core, about 12 to 24;" in length, is impregnated, in accordance with my above mentioned application, in a suitable compound and is subsequently pressed into a very compact mass; most of the sealing compound being forced out and substantially all spaces being filled by the paper insulation. Elastic rubber tape 3 may serve as a means for thusconfining the core. When the core has been closely confined at this point, it is further wound with impregnated tape at so as to build up the diameter to approximately that desired. Balata, guttapercha, or other suitable material is next applied over the tape 4:. This.

filling materiale is preferably in the form of strips 1" to 1 wide and to thick which are wound spirally around the plug so as to give a butt joint between adjacent turns. ering 6 when applied is sufficient to cause the balata 5 to flow into a homogeneous mass which completely fills the space between the core and the sheath. It will thus be seen that this material will completely fill even the smallest air gaps, making it impossible for water to pass between the plug and the sheath.

When the lead sheath 6 is in place, the usual hemp covering 7, the steel armor 8, and the outer jute covering 9 are applied in the standard manner.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of forming-a water-tight seal between the core and sheath of a cable which comprises covering the core with a filling substance and causing said substance to flow into a homogeneous mass upon applying the sheath.

2. The method of forming a water-tight seal between the core and sheath of a cable which comprises covering the core with an electric insulating material and causing said material tov flow into a homogeneous mass upon applying the sheath.

3. The method of forming a water-tight seal between a cable core and sheath which comprises covering the core with a filler of balata, and applying the sheath in the presencev of heat to cause the filler to flow into and fill all spaces.

The heat of the lead cov- 4. The method of sealing the space between a cable core and sheath which comprises winding a filling substance spirally around the core so as to give a butt joint between adjacent turns, and subse uently applying the hot sheath to cause said substance to flow into and fill all spaces.

5; The method of making a cable plug which comprises impregnating a section of the core of'a fibrous insulated cable in a sealing compound, compressing the core to so small a diameter that the fibrous insulating material and the compound fill the spaces between the strands. subsequently covering the plug with a filling material, and causing said substance to flow into a homogeneous mass upon applying the sheath.

6. The method of making a water-tight seal between the plug and the sheath of a submarine cable which comprises giving the plug a final coating of a substance such as balata of sufficient thickness to make the completed plug fit the sheath snugly; and subsequently applying the hot lead sheath so as to cause the substance to flow into a homogeneousmass which completely fills the space between the plug and the sheath.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of April, A. D., 1921.

JOSEPH J. ZELENKA. 

